4/18/09

Just after midnight tonight I'll hear a fife and drum corps marching down Main Street to the green in Monument Square, where I live.

Only in Concord, Massachusetts might a parade pass by your home at midnight!

But it's Patriots Day weekend and tonight is the Patriots Ball, an affair that ends with the revelers marching from the armory to First Parish Church (across the street from my church and rectory) where the folks greet "Dr. Samuel Prescott" who arrives to announce that the Regulars (the British) are on the move.

Some claim the cry of the night was, "The Regulars are out!" while others favor, "The Regulars are coming!" But it seems none of the well-informed on this matter credit the good doctor with shouting the more familiar, "The British are coming!"

Michael Ryan tells the story here - not without its romantic element - and it's one worth reading if you want to get the story behind the story.

A fife and drum corps is hardly the stuff of a lullaby, but once they've marched away tonight I hope I'll be fast asleep and ready to rise early for Mass in the morning.

My loving wife and I were married in Concord on this weekend 29 years ago and will never forget it. It was a special weekend for our entire wedding party and guest from both family's. I asked her to marry me on the Old North Bridge.

Well, I called it a day long before I expected to hear the fifes and drums - but I never heard them! Not sure if I dozed through it or if it didn't happen. Heard that "Dr. Prescott" rode this morning at the Dawn Salute (that's another piece of Concord drama) and that his horse had a near miss although neither he nor the horse were injured. Will have to ask about to see what happened last night.

Word for Holy Week

Click on the bible for the readings for Holy Week and some notes to help you understand them.

A Blessing for Lent

Click above for a sung Lenten blessing

Lent 2015

For a pocket cross with this scripture verse, send a stamped self-addressed envelope to Concord Pastor, 55 Church Street, Concord, MA 01742

Music for Winter Prayer

(Click on the image for a prayer)

href="http://ekaterinasfluff.com/album/the-keys-of-e">The Keys of E by Ekaterina

A daily prayer

A song and prayer for Lent

I need a clean heart this Lent, Lord, so in these 40 days I pray you'll: sweep, dust, cleanse, mend, repair, forgive, purify and strengthen this heart of mine... And because I need a new spirit within me, Lord, I pray you'll: renew my listless spirit, lift up my drooping spirit, rekindle my burned-out spirit, open up my selfish spirit, refresh my failing spirit, energize my tired spirit, pardon my sinful spirit and put a right spirit within me, within this heart of mine...

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic?

The best place to start is always one of your local Catholic churches. Drop in some Sunday and see what's going on. Then you might speak to the pastor or someone on the parish staff about how they can help you and respond to your questions.